Stray Volts?

[FlyTekk]

Hey i want to check for stray voltage in my tank. Many have suggested using a multi meter to check. I have this one....

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-115/7-Function-Multimeter/Detail

Where should i plug in the red and black cables as i have 3 options. And then where do i set the knob to? Lastly what am i looking for? Anything above 0?

 

[Archreefer]

You plug the black into the COM port on the bottom, and the red into the middle. then set on ACV 200 on the top. You should read zero, I had a mag go bad and got a good zap. Bought the same one at Harbor Freight for like $2.99 had a reading of 76volts.

 

[FlyTekk]

So what does it mean when i get 0 at acv 200. But when i go to dcv 200 and/or 2000 i get numbers fluctuating up and down. But when i start to remove koralias (i have 3) one by one the numbers begin to reduce.

 

[Archreefer]

Your looking for ac current not dc

 

[FlyTekk]

Goog then i should be fine cause thats at 0! Thanks!

 

[FlyTekk]

Okay so i tested tonight. I get 0.2.

When i pull the ground probe out of the water it reads 0.0. When i put ground probe back in it jumps to 0.4 and settles to 0.2.

What does this mean? Why would the ground probe bring it up?

 

[mbg75]

Where r u touching the red and black to?
Where is your ground probe connected to?

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[FlyTekk]

The red is in the water. The black is touching anything metal i can find. The ground probe is in the water. And is connected to my 6 outlet gfci box. Which is plugged into my wall outlets.

 

[mbg75]

Does the ground probe have a ring terminal or an outlet plug? Sounds like the meter is measuring between neutral and ground with the reading u got with the probe in.

Red in the water, black to the round hole on the outlet.



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[FlyTekk]

The ground probe has a normal outlet plug. With plastic positive and neg or neutral. And a metal ground. That is plugged into wall.

It also has a little wire dangling from outlet that has a metal ring at the end. Not sure whats that for.

 

[FlyTekk]

Anyone?

 

[Cris007]

When u put the ground probe in the water u r basically creating a circuit. So voltage/current can flow. Which is what u want so if there is any significant voltage it will follow the path of least resistance which is your probe. Meters r very sensitive hold the probes one on each hand and u get a reading. You will find AC voltage almost everywhere but current is the true killer.

 

[FlyTekk]

So .2 voltage is not bad? No current in that small a voltage?

 

[Cris007]

R u reading .2 Volts or amps?
Its probably volts u r reading if u r going from your tank to ground with your ground probe in the tank. Which is nothing. A static shock like when u get zapped touching someone can have hundreds of volts in it but not enough amps to harm you. .2V is nothing.

 

[FlyTekk]

I dont know i set it on acv 200 like i was told in this thread.

 

[mbg75]

As I said earlier test with the red in the water and the black to the round hole on an outlet.

Also, the round eyelet on your ground probe can be connected to center screw on a regular outlet.

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[FlyTekk]

what if i cant connect eyelet to center screw. Does it make the probe not function well?

 

[Cris007]

Don't worry about it you r good. Electricity gets very deep. Depending how well magnetically your pumps r insulated they will also make your meter show a reading. That's why when u unhooked them one by one the reading diminished.

 

[FlyTekk]

I hear that! thanks! But why would it jump back up from 0 when probe is in the water. Should i take it out? Some people dont like ground probes. Is this why?

 

[Cris007]

I don't know why people wouldn't like them. It's there to protect u from getting electrocuted. Maybe because it's metal? It jumps because u r completing a circuit with the probe. Voltage has a path to flow but the voltage is insignificant.